The Late Mrs. Null eBook

Shortly after this, Lawrence sat in the parlor, by
himself, writing a letter. It was to Junius Keswick;
and in it he related the facts of his search for him
in New York, and the reason why he desired to make
his acquaintance. He concealed nothing but the
fact that Keswick’s cousin had had anything
to do with the affair. “If she wants him
to know that,” he thought, “she can tell
him herself. It is not my business to make any
revelations in that quarter.” He concluded
the letter by informing Mr Keswick of the visit of
the anti-detective, and warning him against any attempts
which that individual might make upon his pocket, assuring
him that the man could tell him nothing in regard
to the affair that he now did not know.

After dinner, during which meal Miss March appeared
in a very good humor, and talked rather more than
she had yet done in the bosom of that family, Lawrence
had his horse saddled, and rode to the railroad station,
about six miles distant, where he posted his letter;
and also sent a telegram to Mr Junius Keswick, warning
him to pay no attention to any man who might call
upon him on business connected with Croft and Keswick,
and stating that an explanatory letter had been sent.

The anti-detective had left on a train an hour before,
but Lawrence felt certain that the telegram would
reach Keswick before the man could possibly get to
him, especially as the latter had probably not yet
found out his intended victim’s address.

CHAPTER XVIII.

As Lawrence Croft rode back to Mrs Keswick’s
house, after having posted to his rival the facts
in the case of Croft after Keswick, he did not feel
in a very happy or triumphant mood. The visit
of the anti-detective had compelled him to write to
Keswick at a time when it was not at all desirable
that he should make any disclosures whatever in regard
to his love affair with Miss March, except that very
important disclosure which he had made to the lady
herself that morning. Of course there was no
great danger that any intimation would reach Miss March
of Mr Croft’s rather eccentric search for his
predecessor in the position which he wished to occupy
in her affections. But the matter was particularly
unpleasant just now, and Lawrence wished to occupy
his time here in business very different from that
of sending explanations to rivals and warding off
unfriendly entanglements threatened by a blackmailer.

It was absolutely necessary for him to find out what
he had done to offend Miss March. Offended that
lady certainly was, and he even felt that she was
glad of the opportunity his declaration gave her to
inflict punishment upon him. But still he did
not despair. When she had made him pay the penalty
she thought proper for whatever error he had committed,
she might be willing to listen to him. He had
not said anything to her in regard to his failure
to make her the promised visit at Midbranch, for,